Humorous texting-and-driving video takes dark turn

A South African province video uses humor to discuss texting and driving, before taking a dark turn. In the U.S., 28 percent of accidents are caused in some way by cell phone use while driving. (Source: Western Cape Government)

(RNN) - A new public service announcement from Western Cape, South Africa is the latest video to use graphic imagery to raise awareness for texting and driving.

The video - created by the Western Cape government - features people walking around while using their cell phones.

They run into telephone poles, ponds and even other people to a happy-go-lucky music track. Then, the video takes a dramatic turn for the worse.

In the United States, the National Safety Council estimates 28 percent of accidents are caused in some way by cell phone use while driving. The U.S. saw 3,477 distracted driving deaths in 2015.

In the much-smaller Western Cape, 1,288 were killed while driving in 2016.

In a survey taken by the Western Cape Government, half of teenagers between the ages of 14-18 believed that less than 250 were killed while driving.

However, 49 percent of respondents knew someone who had been killed on the road.

This isn't the first time governments have stepped in to raise awareness.

In 2009, the United Kingdom published a graphic public service film to highlight the dangers of texting and driving.

DISCLAIMER: Please watch the United Kingdom PSA at your own discretion - it is extremely graphic and restricted by YouTube to viewers 18 and older.

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